MANILA – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has been recognized as Airport of the Year – Asia during the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 held in Singapore last November 25.
“This award is a testament to the dedication of the entire MCIA community and the success of CEBConnects,” Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) chief executive officer Athanasios Titonis said in a statement.
CEBConnects is a program that optimizes air-to-air transfers at the MCIA, setting a new benchmark for operational excellence in the country. This initiative involves a major redesign of passenger flow and infrastructure, including the introduction of dedicated transfer facilities and streamlined processes.
The ACAC said through CEBConnects, the airport was able to reduce the connection time in domestic to domestic, from one hour to 35 minutes. Domestic to international; international to domestic; and international to international connecting time was also reduced from 90 minutes to one hour.
With the resulting seamless transfer efficiency, MCIA has bag the recognition. ACAC said the enhancement has also driven a 45% increase in MCIA’s transfer passenger volume year-on-year.
“By strategically leveraging Cebu’s central geographical location, we are not just speeding up transfers; we are actively supporting the country’s tourism goals by making it easier for travelers to reach other island destinations,” Titonis remarked.
MCIA general manager Julius Neri, Jr. in a statement, said CEBConnects enhances airline operations and customer experience, and that passengers see MCIA as a highly competitive and reliable hub for regional travel.
The airport maintains an average of 80 percent on-time performance and serves 25 airlines. (With PNA)